Throughout the 2017-18 school year, 17 local high schools have participated in the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program, an education initiative that celebrates and supports the achievements of high school theater programs in Northeastern Wisconsin.

During the program year, participating students had the opportunity to attend eight workshops with professional artists at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and had the opportunity to ask questions and explore different aspects of theater, giving them a deeper understanding of professional performing arts.

A team of trained adjudicators attended each participating school's musical production and provided educational feedback, ultimately determining the recipients of this year's Center Stage Awards. Scores for each production were tabulated and the top qualifiers were nominated to represent their school at the official showcase. All qualifying nominees will be recognized with an award in their category at the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards on May 19.

Nominated performers will participate in a professionally produced showcase on May 19 at 7:30 p.m. on stage at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, May 4 at 10 a.m.

Outstanding Ensemble
Fond du Lac High School's Sister Act
Kimberly High School's Little Shop of Horrors
Little Chute High School's Shrek
Neenah High School's Damn Yankees
St. Mary Central High School's How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor
Jonah Hammen
as Lord Farquaad in Little Chute High School's ShrekKani Johnson
as Donkey in Little Chute High School's ShrekMichael Murphy
as Joe Hardy in Neenah High School's Damn YankeesTravis Vandenberg
as Seymour Krelborn in Kimberly High School's Little Shop of HorrorsLogan Zills
as Dewey Finn in Ashwaubenon High School's School of Rock

Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress
Klaire Kulas
as Audrey in Kimberly High School's Little Shop of HorrorsAbbi Landrum
as Tracy Turnblad in Green Bay Preble High School's HairsprayPaige Neumeyer
as Cassie in Green Bay East High School's A Chorus LineRiley Seib
as Golde in Mishicot High School's Fiddler on the RoofZakia Trotter
as Deloris Van Cartier in Fond du Lac High School's Sister Act

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor
Wesley Blashka
as Rocky in Neenah High School's Damn YankeesCaleb Diny
as Grimsby in Denmark High School's The Little MermaidJon Geniesse
as Zack Mooneyham in Ashwaubenon High School's School of RockDom Lehner
as Mr. Bratt in St. Mary Catholic's How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingDeven Vera
as Orin Scrivello, DDS in Kimberly High School's Little Shop of Horrors

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress
Jayna Glynn
as Sister in Neenah High School's Damn YankeesMarissa Krueger
as Sister Mary Patrick in Fond du Lac's Sister ActBriah Larson
as Summer Hathaway in Ashwaubenon's School of RockLauren Meyer
as Smitty in St. Mary Catholic's How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingClaire Sawall
as Carol Strong in Appleton East's Catch Me If You Can

Rising Star AwardRecognizes an underclassman in a feature role who is not eligible for a lead or supporting role nomination.Carly de la Masa
as Tanika in Kimberly's Little Shop of Horrors

Show Stopper AwardNominated by adjudicators, this award recognizes a student not eligible for a lead or supporting nomination who demonstrated excellence in their contribution to the school's production.Sydney Sebert
as Sister Mary Lazarus in Fond du Lac's Sister Act

Community Engagement AwardCelebrating one outstanding school who connected their production back to their community.Denmark High School
with their production of The Little Mermaid

Outstanding Achievement AwardCelebrating a student who has triumphed over and defied difficulties. Brandon Lee
from Green Bay Southwest High School

Backstage Spirit AwardRecognizing the individuals or crews who tirelessly contributed to the creation of seamless storytelling on stage. Katelyn Pietroske
from Mishicot High School

At the showcase, one outstanding lead actress and one outstanding lead actor will be announced as Best Actress and Best Actor. Chosen through a separate audition process, these two performers will represent the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program at The National High School Musical Theatre Awards™, also called The Jimmys®, in New York City on June 25. Participants in that program will audition for scholarships, learn from professionals in a week of workshops and perform on stage at the Minskoff Theatre (currently the Broadway home to Disney’s The Lion King).

TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE MAY 19 SHOWCASE
The community is welcomed to celebrate the successes of local high school musical theater programs and see the local stars of tomorrow at the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for this performance are $15 for adults and $10 for students and go on sale Friday, May 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Fox Cities P.A.C. ticket office in person or by phone (920) 730-3760 or through Ticketmaster online or by phone at (800) 982-2787. Additional fees may apply.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program is an educational initiative of the Fox Cities P.A.C. with additional support from corporate partner Fox Communities Credit Union.
Additional partners in this program include workshop and rehearsal partner Schneider Foundation, social media partner Nicolet National Bank, Outstanding Achievement Award partner Angelo and Jennifer Ninivaggi and Community Engagement Award partner Wipfli, LLP.
Partial support for the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program is provided by Octoberfest, an event of the Fox Cities Chamber. Mission-based programming is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and National Endowment for the Arts.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
The Jimmy® Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards™ (NHSMTA) program impacts more than 100,000 students who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of Touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. Presented by the Broadway League Foundation, the program sends a Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions to New York for a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only talent showcase on Broadway. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $2,000,000 in educational scholarships. The tenth annual Jimmy® Awards will take place on Monday, June 25, 2018 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Coaching and rehearsals for this one-of-a-kind event will be held Monday, June 18, 2018 through Monday, June 25, 2018 in New York City. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com

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